Saturday, August 9, 2014

Dressing for Church Proper attire in the House of God

The Church is our home, a place where we should feel comfortable, and
at ease. It is also God’s house and is a temple set aside for worship of
the Holy Trinity. Although times have changed
and we have become a very casual society, this attitude can not be
allowed to influence how we dress to worship God. Our way of dressing
for church should reflect our desire to offer our very best to Christ.
Just as we want to act in ways that demonstrate the centrality of Christ
in our lives, our dress should show forth the modesty that is befitting
a Christian.

Just as we take special care to dress for formal
social occasions, or job interviews, how much more important it is to
show our respect for God's house. If we were invited to the wedding of
our boss's daughter, we'd make sure to show respect to our employer by
dressing our best. Does God deserve anything less?

We should
wear clothes that are modest and befitting a Christian, especially when
worshiping in God's house. In our monastery's temple, we keep the
ancient practice of removing our shoes before entering, recalling God’s
direction to Moses “ … take off your shoes from your feet, for the place
where you are is holy ground”. We ask that no one wear shorts or tee
shirts when entering the holy grounds of the monastery, and, as is
proper in all Orthodox churches, ask visitors to avoid the distractions
that come with slogans on clothing, or "showy" clothing that is best
reserved for elegant events.

Both men and women should avoid
wearing clothing that can be distracting to other worshipers. Just as we
want to keep our focus on the divine services, so too we must not be
the cause of the distraction for our fellow Christians. Christ should be
the focus of our worship, not our personal outfits. Church is not the
place to show off the latest fashion, nor the results of the fitness
center.

Just as it is Orthodox custom that men remove their
hats upon entering the Church, women, throughout the history of the
Church, have worn head coverings. The idea that this pious, biblical
custom be seen as an antiquated or sexist practice, should be foreign to
our Orthodox mindset. This tradition is not intended as an insult to
women but as a great compliment. The scriptures refer to a woman’s hair
as her “crowning glory”, and the covering of her head as an act of
humility. Throughout Christian history, modest believing women chose not
to allow their beauty to distract others from the glory of God and the
beauty of His house.

You can read the life of the saint by clicking on the highlighted name.

"Blogs and social networks give us new opportunities for the
Christian mission...Not to be present there means to display our
helplessness and lack of care for the salvation of our brothers." His Holiness Patriarch KirillThe Scripture Readings for the Day

2 Timothy 2:1-10

Be Strong in Grace

2 You therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. 2 And
the things that you have heard from me among many witnesses, commit
these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also. 3 You therefore must endure hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. 4 No one engaged in warfare entangles himself with the affairs of this life, that he may please him who enlisted him as a soldier. 5 And also if anyone competes in athletics, he is not crowned unless he competes according to the rules. 6 The hardworking farmer must be first to partake of the crops. 7 Consider what I say, and may the Lord give you understanding in all things.8 Remember that Jesus Christ, of the seed of David, was raised from the dead according to my gospel, 9 for which I suffer trouble as an evildoer, even to the point of chains; but the word of God is not chained. 10 Therefore
I endure all things for the sake of the elect, that they also may
obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory.

John 15:17-16:2

17 These things I command you, that you love one another.

The World’s Hatred

18 “If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you. 19 If
you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet because you
are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the
world hates you. 20 Remember
the word that I said to you, ‘A servant is not greater than his
master.’ If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you. If they
kept My word, they will keep yours also. 21 But all these things they will do to you for My name’s sake, because they do not know Him who sent Me. 22 If I had not come and spoken to them, they would have no sin, but now they have no excuse for their sin. 23 He who hates Me hates My Father also. 24 If
I had not done among them the works which no one else did, they would
have no sin; but now they have seen and also hated both Me and My
Father. 25 But this happened that the word might be fulfilled which is written in their law, ‘They hated Me without a cause.’

The Coming Rejection

26 “But
when the Helper comes, whom I shall send to you from the Father, the
Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father, He will testify of Me. 27 And you also will bear witness, because you have been with Me from the beginning.16 “These things I have spoken to you, that you should not be made to stumble. 2 They will put you out of the synagogues; yes, the time is coming that whoever kills you will think that he offers God service.

All-Merciful
Saviour Monastery is a monastery of the Western American Diocese, under the omophor
of His Eminence Kyrill, Archbishop of San Francisco and Western
America. The Monastery is a non-profit 501 C3 organization under IRS
regulations. All donations are therefore tax deductible.

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